Beginner’s Guide to Car Maintenance

If you have just passed your driving test with flying colours, congrats to you! Sooner or later, your thoughts will be turning to car ownership; something dad might be able to help with. Either that, or scrape up a deposit and buy a used car at a local forecourt, which is how most youngsters get their first set of wheels. Of course, you might be lucky and get a family member’s car, which saves the expense; either way, your car will need regular servicing and with that in mind, here are some basics you need to know about.

Owner’s Manual

Every vehicle has an owner’s manual, a small booklet that follows the car throughout its life, which is handed over to the new owner when the car is sold. Inside this manual is the entire service history of the vehicle; every service and what exactly was done, complete with the rubber stamp of the garage.

Maintenance Tasks

Every 5-7000 km, your car needs to have the following:

• Engine oil change – The oil filter is also replaced; oil specs as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Brakes – The brake specialist in Sandhurst can check the condition of the front and rear brake pads, which usually last 30-40,000 km. If they become too worn, there is a danger the pads wear down to the rivets and this would score the brake disc, which is a costly replacement. Brake fluid levels are checked and topped up when necessary.
• Belts Inspection – There are numerous belts that power a range of devices and all need to be carefully inspected, looking for signs of wear and tear or damage.

If you have just bought your first car, book it into a local garage for its first service under a new owner.